We go to New York City every summer (;except last year during the pandemic) to visit our daughter and make sure to find time to visit The Strand. https://www.strandbooks.com/ Vast bookstore with both new and used books. Also love Myopic Books in Wicker Park Chicago. Stacks and stacks of used books- I can get lost in there for hours. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention The Book Table in my hometown of Oak Park, Il. It’s a great community book store beloved by Oak Parkers who banded together to keep it afloat during the pandemic- my husband accused me of doing so single-handedly!
And for home and for all who travel to the western suburbs of Chicago, Anderson's Bookshop with two locations in Naperville, IL and Downers Grove, IL https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/
I've also worked in Trident Booksellers on Newbury Street in Boston as an undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc, and faculty member. It is where I had my book signing for HIVEMIND :) https://www.tridentbookscafe.com/
One of my daughters lives in NYC, so I highly recommend the Strand Book Store in Manhattan (see https://www.strandbooks.com). One of my brothers (who lives in suburban Chicago) put me on to the Mysterious Bookshop, also in NYC, one of the oldest mystery bookstores in the U.S. (https://www.mysteriousbookshop.com). In fact, owner and anthologist (er?) Otto Penzler has a new anthology out, according to www.stopyourekillingme.com. And if you've never visited that website, you need to!
Spoonbill in Williamsburg, NYC! I used to love Maple Street Books in New Orleans, but it closed. Now I go to Blue Cypress in NOLA. And in Baltimore I go to Red Emma's.
The farthest I've ever gone for a bookstore is Buenos Aires, Argentina (I live in South Carolina). But while it's technically a chain, the El Ateneo in the old opera house is definitely 100 percent worth the visit. It helps that Buenos Aires is absolutely fantastic, too.
Browseabout Books in Rehoboth, DE. https://www.browseaboutbooks.com/ In 2007, I had a 5 minute chat with then Senator Joe Biden as he signed his latest book for me. And in 2019, I procured a signed copy of Jill Biden's book. Amazing numbers of known authors appear regularly. The bookstore is massive--lots of old/new/unusual books available as well as the largest card selection I've seen and various tourist-oriented mementos.
If you’re crossing Iowa on I-80, Prairie Lights bookstore in Iowa City is great, and located right downtown near some good restaurants.
We go to New York City every summer (;except last year during the pandemic) to visit our daughter and make sure to find time to visit The Strand. https://www.strandbooks.com/ Vast bookstore with both new and used books. Also love Myopic Books in Wicker Park Chicago. Stacks and stacks of used books- I can get lost in there for hours. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention The Book Table in my hometown of Oak Park, Il. It’s a great community book store beloved by Oak Parkers who banded together to keep it afloat during the pandemic- my husband accused me of doing so single-handedly!
And for home and for all who travel to the western suburbs of Chicago, Anderson's Bookshop with two locations in Naperville, IL and Downers Grove, IL https://www.andersonsbookshop.com/
Harvey’s Tales in Geneva IL
Harveystales.com
E. Shaver booksellers in Savannah, Georgia.
The Bookstore Plus in Lake Placid NY
The Strand in New York City
Kramer’s Books in Washington DC
Prairie Lights in Iowa City
Yellow Umbrella Books in Chatham MA on Cape Cod
My local go to is Anderson’s Bookstore in Naperville
I've written many a word peering over the waterfall at The Book Mill in Montague, MA - which has a rich history! https://maq.ujw.mybluehost.me/history/
I've also worked in Trident Booksellers on Newbury Street in Boston as an undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc, and faculty member. It is where I had my book signing for HIVEMIND :) https://www.tridentbookscafe.com/
Shakespeare and Co. in Paris is an absolute delight. https://shakespeareandcompany.com/
One of my daughters lives in NYC, so I highly recommend the Strand Book Store in Manhattan (see https://www.strandbooks.com). One of my brothers (who lives in suburban Chicago) put me on to the Mysterious Bookshop, also in NYC, one of the oldest mystery bookstores in the U.S. (https://www.mysteriousbookshop.com). In fact, owner and anthologist (er?) Otto Penzler has a new anthology out, according to www.stopyourekillingme.com. And if you've never visited that website, you need to!
Spoonbill in Williamsburg, NYC! I used to love Maple Street Books in New Orleans, but it closed. Now I go to Blue Cypress in NOLA. And in Baltimore I go to Red Emma's.
The farthest I've ever gone for a bookstore is Buenos Aires, Argentina (I live in South Carolina). But while it's technically a chain, the El Ateneo in the old opera house is definitely 100 percent worth the visit. It helps that Buenos Aires is absolutely fantastic, too.
https://www.travelgumbo.com/blog/el-alteneo-bookstore-buenos-aires-1
Parnassus in Nashville, TN. Owned by author Ann Patchett.
In Jacksonville Florida the unique Chamblin Bookmine is a treasure
https://www.chamblinbookmine.com/
Browseabout Books in Rehoboth, DE. https://www.browseaboutbooks.com/ In 2007, I had a 5 minute chat with then Senator Joe Biden as he signed his latest book for me. And in 2019, I procured a signed copy of Jill Biden's book. Amazing numbers of known authors appear regularly. The bookstore is massive--lots of old/new/unusual books available as well as the largest card selection I've seen and various tourist-oriented mementos.
Here are a few of my favorite bookstores discovered while traveling-
Snowbound Books, Marquette, MI; snowboundbooks.com
Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore, Forest Park, IL; centuriesand slueths.com
Mystery to Me, Madison, WI; mysterytomebooks.com
Pearl Street Books, LaCrosse, WI; facebook.com/PSBooks
Unabridged Bookstore, Chicago, IL
Cottage Bookstore in Glen Arbor, MI
Mclean and Eakin in Petoskey, MI
Nicola's Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI
Horizon Books, Traverse City, MI
Lowry's Three Rivers, MI
Caveat Emptor, Bloomington, IN
Hyde Brother's Books, Fort Wayne, IN
Peninsula Bookman, Fish Creek, WI
William Caxton LTD, Ellison Bay, WI
Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, Vermont